Lead 9
Pilit na kumakawala ang lalaking hawak ng mga pulis ngayon. Makalipas ang ilang araw ay nabuking rin na siya ang pumatay sa sarili niyang anak.
I watched him getting dragged by policemen towards us without showing any pity.
He deserves to rot in jail.
"Attorney! Attorney!" he chanted as he saw us, "Sabihin mo sa mga taong 'to na hindi ako ang pumatay sa anak ko!"
I didn't talk but I placed the brown envelope containing evidences to show that he indeed is the culprit.
"H-hindi--" the police let him sit down and he silently gazed at the pictures. But not long enough when he laughed like a maniac.
"Putangina!" He laughed harder, "Gago, pokpok 'yan." Marahas siyang umiling, "Wala akong anak na pokpok!"
She, indeed was an exotic dancer at the bar where she went that night. But that won't justify the father's action.
Walang anu-anong pumasok ang asawa nito dahilan para makatanggap ang lalaki ng isang malakas na sampal.
"Walang hiya ka!" sinampal niya itong muli. "Napakababoy mo! P-paano mo 'to nagawa sa sarili mong anak?!"
"Hindi ko siya anak! Tangina, anak mo 'yan sa kabit mo, eh! Kamukhang-kamukha niya! Sinong hindi maiirita?!" the mans eyes where blasing with anger.
"H-hindi mo maiintindihan--"
"Ang alin! Putangina, alin--" ngunit nang napigtas ang harang na pumipigil sa babae ay sumabat na ito nang walang pagaalinlangan.
"Ginahasa ako!" the man froze upon hearing the lady, "I was fucking raped and you know who did this?! It was your best friend, yung kabit na tinatawag mo!"
"Ha! 'Wag mong idadamay si Rob-"
"Hindi si Roberto!" she was now panting, with eyes filled with liquid, "S-si--" ngunit bago pa man matapos ang kaniyang sasabihin ay may nagsalita na mula sa kaniyang likuran.
"What is all the drama here?"
"Tita..." I stood up and mentioned my seat to Tita Amorte. "Upo ho muna kayo."
The lady who was frantic went back to being silent. But she was trembling just upon the voice of Tita Amorte.
Tita Amorte screams power and authority. Para siyang nakakatakot banggain. I'm thankful na hindi ko siya makakabangga dahil alam kong pamilya ko sila.
Hindi ko alam kung ako lang ba o parang kakaiba kung tumingin ang babae kay Tita Amorte.
Para itong takot na may halong galit.
Tita Amorte is a nice person. If not for her, I would never got the chance to meet my boyfriend.
And yes, Tod and Tita Amorte are family. Foster family. But it is still family.
Something I don't have.
Wala na ang ingay na bumubulabog sa lugar kanina. Pero bakas sa matandang babae ang luha at galit habang tinitignan si Tita Amorte.
Ilang saglit pa ay bigla itong sumugod sa kaniya.
"Hayop ka! Malandi ka!" she startes pulling a palm of tita's hair dragging her. Everyone in the place were watching them fight. Police Officers are trying to stop them but the woman was too strong.
I wanted to go get tita too but Detective Cruz was grpping my wrist to stop me from doing so.
Watching Tita being calm despite of how she's being treated made me admire her more. She's good at hinding, I know she's hurt.
Nang mapaghiwalay na ng mga pulis ang dalawa ay pinagpag ni Tita Morte ang sarili niya bago umalis. She did'nt utter any word, but as she walked out, a small card fell from her.
I immediately ran from Detective's grip to pick it up. When I had picked it , I looked at it.
But even before I could utter Tita's name, my brows furrowed upon the sight of a familiar sign.
I analysed it, and it was the same as the tatoo I have seen before. How?
My mind was clouded by the thought.
I remembered so many things that were similar to what Tita's card showed me.
The envelope with the arrow on it. The envelope stamp was as the same figure as the card.
The logo printed on the back of the van when I got a delivery of blood and skin. What I did was I dug a hole on my garded and burried them. I was too scared to approach anyone because of that.
My uncle's tatoo in his left chest.
Lastly, the logo on the site that appeared on my dreams.
My head was spinning. I didn't know what to do.
Should I ask tita about it? Is she connected to everything? Or is this just something that she's investigating, too?
Probably the third one. I have to give this back to Tita.
